Kubiak: Keenum to start vs. Pats

Published 4:05 pm, Monday, November 25, 2013

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans couldn’t beat the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now they’ve got to deal with Tom Brady and one of the best teams in the NFL.

Houston’s losing streak stretched to nine games with the loss to the Jaguars. They’ll have to find a way to regroup before the AFC East-leading Patriots come to town on Sunday to avoid seeing the skid reach 10.

Case Keenum and Houston’s offense were largely ineffective against the Jaguars. But coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday that he’s sticking with Keenum as his starter this week.

“We’ve got to find a way to eliminate some of the mistakes and some of the things that are happening to him,” Kubiak said. “I think those will happen as he continues to play. You just, you want to find a young man some success.”

Keenum has lost all five of his starts, but Kubiak has been impressed with the fact that the undrafted free agent has had the team in each of the games. Houston has lost each by a touchdown or less.

He said that Keenum is growing and that he expected him to have some struggles as defenses adjusted to him. He added that the veterans on the offense need to step up their play to help Keenum get through his first season.

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“That’s a good message because if ... you got a young quarterback with some young guys around you, it’s easy to get too concerned with what they’re doing and what they’re not doing,” Kubiak said.

Keenum threw seven touchdowns with no interceptions in his first three starts, but has faded since.